QB figures USC is best path to NFL

LOS ANGELES

In June, the NCAA hit Southern California's football program with harsh sanctions that focus on the Reggie Bush era. As part of the punishment, USC won't be able to play in a bowl game this season or next.

It would have been understandable if Matt Barkley had considered transferring. He started at quarterback as a true freshman last season, so he still has a redshirt year to use. He would not have lost a year of eligibility had he transferred.

Some players did leave USC. Not Barkley.

"It never entered my mind even once," the Newport Beach, Calif., native said at Pacific-10 media day at the Rose Bowl in late July. "It's still almost like a dream come true to be playing at this school.

"To get a degree from the University of Southern California is huge. Also, not a lot of people think about this... is how many people we send to the NFL. I figured signing with USC would give me the best chance as a quarterback to go into the league, and that hasn't changed."

The next time USC will be eligible for the BCS title game or any other bowl is the 2012 season. That could be Barkley's senior year, or he could be an NFL rookie that year instead.

"Coming into USC, I had a couple things I wanted to accomplish. Obviously, a national championship was up there," said Barkley, whose team will host Virginia on Saturday night (10:30 p.m., CSN). "So it kind of stinks that we're not going to be able to do that the next couple years."

USC coach Lane Kiffin, who was sitting next to Barkley at the time, joked: "So you're announcing that you're staying for your senior year so you can do that?"

Barkley replied, "Yeah, we'll see. Hopefully."

Later, while holding court with the media by himself, Barkley said it won't be hard for the No. 16 Trojans to be motivated this season - even though they can't advance to the Rose Bowl or the BCS title game.

"Our goal before all this came down was to win as many games as we can, and that hasn't changed," said Barkley, whose team is still eligible to be crowned national champion in The Associated Press poll. "It's not up to us to decide who the best team in the country is. But if we leave no doubt, if we win every game, then it should be good things for us in the long run."

Kiffin is confident Barkley will help USC succeed.

"When all those sanctions come down,... I speak to the media and then here comes Matt Barkley - handles himself with great class, with great composure," Kiffin recalled. "I don't know many kids that can do that at that age. That carries over on the football field. That's one of the reasons you'll see him have a great year."

Barkley, who graduated early from high school so he could take part in spring football in 2009, completed 211 of 352 passes for 2,735 yards in 12 games last season.

He became the first USC true freshman to start a season opener at quarterback. A week later, he led the team on a game-winning drive at Ohio State.

But he had almost as many interceptions (14) last year as touchdown passes (15), and the Trojans finished a disappointing 9-4.

After succeeding Pete Carroll as coach, Kiffin re-opened the quarterback competition. Barkley fended off Mitch Mustain in spring practice.

"It challenged me to be a better quarterback," Bark-ley said. "It made me improve my game a lot."

In last week's season-opening 49-36 win at Hawaii, Barkley completed 18 of 23 passes for 257 yards and a school-record-tying five touchdowns. He did not throw an interception.

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Barkley didn't just work on his decision-making in the offseason. He also shed pounds to improve his quickness.

"The guy still had a bunch of baby fat," Kiffin said. "We completely changed his workout plan. We changed his diet. And he's really bought into it."

Barkley could be better this season and still not even make the All-Pac 10 second team, though.

ESPN analyst Mel Kiper predicts Washington's Jake Locker and Stanford's Andrew Luck will be the top two picks in next year's NFL d raft.

"Why those two are at the top of Mel Kiper's board... is because of their raw, physical skills," ESPN analyst Brock Huard said. "They can throw it as well as Matt Barkley, but then both of those guys can run. Matt's not going to beat you with his legs."

Barkley is confident in his overall ability, however.

"I believe my best is better than anyone else's best," he said.

He won't get to show it in a bowl game this season, though.

In fact, he will have the same winter break as the regular students at USC.

So what will he do?

"I've thought about it a lot," he said. "I'll probably go overseas, go on a (church) mission. This is a big block of time that I'm going to try to take advantage of."